Flag anchoring construction



March 1, 1966 5. DE SON FLAG ANGHORING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 5, 1964 INVENTOR 55/654 4. ANDERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,237,592 FLAG ANCHORING CONSTRUCTION Seigel A. Anderson, 1444 Como Blvd., St. Paul, Minn. Filed May 5, 1964, Ser. No. 365,032 2 Claims. (Cl. 116-173) This application relates to a new and novel means of anchoring a flag or similar banner to the pole or staff on which the flag is to be carried.

For many years it has been common and usual for banners to be carried on a pole for signaling purposes. As an example, police boys and girls stationed at corners or other intersections for the control of traffic have used a pole from which a banner is suspended, the banner being suitably marked with a stop sign or other indicia in order to indicate trafiic control.

It has been a problem throughout the years to provide a means of anchoring the banner to the pole in such a way that the banner would not become torn along the edge which was secured to the pole by some fastening means. the pole by means of string or other tying means. In other instances, the banner had a hem adapted to receive the carrying pole. In spite of a wide variety of attempts to successfully meet the problem at a relatively inexpensive cost, the matter was not brought under successful control until the invention which I hereby disclose.

I have found that a banner having a hem of a diameter to accommodate a carrying staff or pole and have somewhat opposedly spaced slits adapted to overlie the pole axially, and through which an adhesive tape is designed to be threaded in a particular manner accomplishes my purpose most effectively.

As will be understood, it is possible to have slits which may be generally rectangular openings in the hem in spaced side by side relation so that they overlie spaced apart portions of the pole carried in the hem. A tape designed to adhere adhesively to the pole portions and hem portions with which it comes in contact is used to secure the banner to the pole in one position. The tape extends through one of the slots in adhered relation to the pole adjacent the slot and overlies the portion of the hem intermediate the two slots with the other end of the tape being inserted through the other slot and adhered to the pole therewith. As is apparent by my invention, the tape In some instances, the banners were secured to holds the banner in secured relation to the pole so that the banner is unable to be moved longitudinally on the pole, and importantly the strain caused by wind whipping the banner is distributed evenly along the hem because of its secured relationship to the pole.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flag anchoring construction in which the flag is secured in a predetermined position on a carrying pole or staff in which position it is retained by the elements of my construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flag anchoring construction in which the elements anchoring the flag or banner to the carrying pole secure the banner to the pole in a manner whereby the securing element does not constitute a curiosity designed to be picked at by the person carrying the banner.

As will be generally understood when the flag is carried on a staff and secured by my anchoring construction, the ends of the tape are hidden from the holder so that the holder is unlikely to pick at the ends of the tape.

I have found that the construction is particularly desired J 3,237,592 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 "ice overlie the hem portion intermediate the two slots, the tape is of sufficient length so as to be just slightly longer than a length sufficient to encircle the pole so that one end of the tape is overwrapped by other portions of the tape as it encircles the pole and only one end of the tape is free, this free end of the tape being in adhesive relation to the pole intermediate the solts and enclosed within the hem itself.

As will be apparent it is possible to provide a multiplicity of spaced apart side by side slits so that a plurality of tapes are usable. I have found that my means of construction enables the alteration of presently existing banners so that they may be used together with securing tapes as I have described.

As will be generally understood, in many cities police patrols are provided with poles on which their school-stop banners are carried. Where these banners have been tied to the carrying pole, an undue strain was placed on the tie means generally resulting in regular replacement of the tie tapes caused by wear, tugging on them by the patrol member, and general breakdown due to the elements. Where the police patrol member stands on a corner for a long period of time, the patrol member quite frequently amuses himself by attempting to move the flag up and down on the pole. By the use of my construction, this undue wear will be eliminated.

It is also apparent from my description that the usual strain caused by securing tapes to a banner will be eliminated. Securing of tapes in various spaced apart longitudinal relationship along a banner is unsatisfactory in that strain on the banner caused by the wind whipping the banner is confined to a relatively small area where the tie tape or string is inserted. Quite commonly the tying string or tape would cause a tear in the banner itself. This problem has been overcome by my particular construction as I have previously indicated that the strain is distributed along the entire length of the hem which is the desirable way.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an anchoring construtcion which may be adapted to present flags, and with banners now being manufactured and which will be available at an insignificant cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive relationship between the pole surface and the inner surface of the flag hem through the use of adhesives cooperable with the flag pole material and the flag material thereby holding the flag in close contact with the pole and providing a shear action of adhesion between the pole and the flag which is greatly superior to the peel strength of the tape used alone to hold the flag and pole in combination. As will be apparent, this combination of adhesive relation between the pole and flag coupled with the tape members provides the ultimate in flag anchoring.

A further object of the present invention lies in anchoring the flag to the pole in the manner disclosed supra whereby the flag not only will not slide up and down on the pole, but in addition will not slip around on the pole. This enables snaps to be secured in the flag so that the flag may be rolled on the pole without slippage and fastened through the use of the snaps such as the hollow rivet and receiver in rolled up relation of the flag to the pole.

These and other objects and particular advantages will be more completely described and pointed out in the accompanying specifications taken in conjunction with the drawings herein in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a banner carried on a carrying staff or pole, the pole being secured within a hem of the banner by securing tapes inserted through spaced apart side by side slots with the tape overlying the portion of the hem intermediate the slots and the ends of the tape in secured relation to the pole carried within the hem.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the flag pole of FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 22 illustrating the preferred method of securing the banner to the pole by the anchoring tape.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken through the pole to illustrate one method of threading the anchoring tape through corresponding spaced apart slots to anchor the banner to the carrying pole.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section illustrating a later step in the anchoring of the banner to the pole by means of the securing tape.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the securing tape in which the relationship of the backing members to the adhesive portion of the tape may be clearly seen.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical elevation illustrating a twopole anchored banner construction.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

The drawings disclose anchored flag construction in which flags or other similar banners having hems in which carrying poles may be inserted are secured in fixed relation on the poles through the use of anchoring tapes securing the banners to the pole via slot construction and threading of the tapes through the slots to secure the flags to the poles.

It will be understood that the illustrations are for purposes of providing a description of the invention and are in limitation to the particular banners or poles illustrated.

FIGURE 1 discloses a banner generally numbered 10, the lower portion of the banner being removed since it is not needed for purposes of description. The banner 16 has a hem 12 extending along one edge of the banner generally numbered 14 and secured thereto by stitches generally numbered 16.

The hem 12 is of a diameter to accommodate a carrying pole 18 which may be of any suitable length for the purpose for which the flag is to be carried, the pole being of any preferred shape such as cylindrical, rectangular, and the like, it being understood that the geometric shape of the pole is not of particular importance although generally the pole will be of cylindrical construction.

The view of FIGURE 1 shows a signalling banner such as is commonly carried by school patrol members and for this reason the flag is hung in a somewhat diagonal relation to the pole on which it is carried. For conventional flags, obviously the flag would be in perpendicular relation to the carrying pole.

The hem 12 shown is open at its longitudinal ends 20 and 22 with the carrying pole 18 in the hem and extending through the hem to project from both ends 20 and 22. In the police patrol flag construction illustrated the shaft 18 or similar pole is generally about four feet in length and in order to preserve the pole from untoward damage by the police patrol member wrapping it on the sidewalk, caps such as 24 and 26 are provided, the cap 24 being of rubber, plastic, and the like so that it may be tightly adhered to the end of the pole 18, the butt end 28 of the pole being provided with a removable cap 26 such as a plug designed to absorb the wear of being dragged or wrapped on a hard surface as police children are inclined to do, and so that it may be easily removed and a new plug inserted when needed.

As is apparent from the view of FIGURE 1 and the view of FIGURE 3 in the preferred construction, openings are provided in the hem at spaced intervals. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, the openings or slots in the hem are in generally opposed spaced side by side relation to each other in order that a single tape such as the tape numbered 39 in FIGURE 5 may be threaded through the slot so as to encircle the pole and hem portion between the space slots in adhered relation thereto.

In FIGURE 1 I have shown slot members numbered 4 32, 34, and 36 in which tapes 38, 40, and 42 are inserted for the purpose previously described. As is apparent in the views of FIGURES 1 and 5 the tapes are generally fiat and of suflicient length so as to encircle the pole and hem portion between the slots and the hem and to slightly overlap.

I have found that a generally rectangular tape of a width to rather closely fit the width of the slot in which it is inserted is preferable.

The tape 30 has an adhesive side adapted to be placed in contact with the pole or portions of the hem and a non-adhesive side which is adapted to be exposed in en circled relation to the pole and hem portions between the slots. Any suitable tape may be used for this purpose such as adhesive tape, utility tapes, plastic tapes such as those commonly known as electrical tape and the like.

In the drawing of FIGURE 5 I provide a backing mem ber 44 of a similar length and Width to that of the tape, the backing member 44 being adapted to be in engagement with the adhesive surface of the tape 46. In the preferred construction a second backing member 48 is placed in overlying adhered engagement to one end portion of the tape 50 for a purpose which will be further described. This second backing member 48 is of a relatively short length in comparison with the backing member 44 so that the backing member 44 overlies a .more substantial length of the tape 30 in adhered re- {lation with an end portion of the first backing member 44 overlying the second backing member 43 in nonadhered relation.

Turning to FIGURE 3 as may be seen the tape 30 is led through an aperture such as 32 corresponding to the apertures shown in FIGURE 1, the end of the tape having the backing member 48 being lead through the slot 32 first. As the tape is fed in through the hem around the pole and out through the slot 33, the end portion 52 of the first backing member 44 is folded back as shown to provide a pull tab whereby the backing member 44 may be pulled from the tape. As the tape 30 extends through the slot 33, the backing member 48 may be peeled from it to exposed the adhesive surface of the tape. As will be understood the intermediate portions of the tape as they are exposed by removal of the backing members 44 and 48 adhere to the pole surface such as 54 with which they come in contact.

As may be seen in FIGURE 4 when the second backing member 48 is removed from the tape 3f the tape is enabled to adhere to the pole surface and to the exposed portion .of the hem between the apertures or slots 32 and 33 in overlying relation thereto. As the backing member 44 is completely removed, the portion of the tape exposed may be adhered tightly to the pole and intermediate hem portions in a similar fashion. Preferably the tape 30 is of a length as has been previously indicated so that the adhesive portions of the tape is of such a length so that one end portion of the tape numbered 56 in FIGURE 4 may be concealed in adhered relation by the other end of the tape. Preferably the tape is of suflicient length so that the free end of the tape generally numbered 58 may be inserted through the aperture 33 to conceal the free end. As is apparent in the view of FIGURE 2 by this method of securing the tape, a smooth surface is provided with the ends of the tape either being adhered under other portions of the tape or concealed within the hem itself.

It is particularly obvious that by my method of anchoring the flag to the pole, I have succeeded in avoiding the usual type of strain placed on the flag by arrangements now in use.

The tape in overlying relation to the exposed hem portion and in adhered encircled relation to the pole does not place a strain on the banner itself. The tape serves to prevent the banner from moving longitudinally along the pole, and .in addition where the flag is suspended downwardly from the pole such as isshown in FIGURE 1, the strain of the hanging flag is distributed along the entire hem and is not confined to any particular point.

The description of the suspended flag may be clearly seen in FIGURE 2 where it is apparent that the strain is provided against the hem 12 in engagement with the pole 18. Turning to FIGURE 6 a different view is presented in which the banner generally numbered 60 is relatively elongated and is worn on a pair of poles 62 and 64 and hems 66 and 68. Again paried opposed slot means are provided, one slot of each pair being shown and numbered 70, 72, 74, and 76, in which tapes 78, 80, 82, and 84 are threaded in a fashion similar to that previously described to hold the banner in secured relation on the poles. As can be seen in the view of FIGURE 6, the tapes in this particular instance serve to hold the banners hems from sliding downwardly on the generally vertical poles. As is clearly evident, the strain in this instance is particularly spread by the tape members throughout the hem length. As should be apparent in a large banner which is carried by two or more people, there is a tendency for the central portion of the banner to catch wind and to pull rather strenuously against the poles which are carrying the banner. When this occurs, unless some particular means have been taken to spread the strain, there is a tendency for the banner to pull lose from the poles to which it has been secured. By my invention the strain is distributed throughout the entire hem, and there is not a tendency for the banner to become unsecured. As previously described, the normal tendency of the banner to slide 'down on the poles is prevented by the adhering tapes.

It will be apparent that the width of the slots may be of any suitable Width, and the tapes to be used in the slot should correspond to the width of the slot. The tapes obviously may be of a color to conform to that of the banner which they support so as to provide a very neat appearance. Particularly, also, the slit may be relatively narrow so that the likelihood of moisture getting within the hem is reduced.

It will be apparent that variations in the described anchoring construction may be utilized within the disclosure without departing from the invention. In practical everyday use, the device of utilizing the tapes to anchor the flag in secured relation to a pole by through the threading slot has proved highly successful. Particularly where children are using the flags has the ad- .Vantage of securing the tape so as to leave no unexposed ends proved helpful.

It is obvious, of course, that adhesive tape without the backing members described may be utilized to hold the flag in adhered relation to the pole but the use of the backing members enables a more advantageous threading without undue adhesive attraction between the pole and the tape or between the hem portions and tape until such is desired. Again, it is obvious that a shorter tape might be used so that one end of the tape extends from within the slot in adhered relation to the pole and counter encircles the pole to have the other end of the tape secured within the opposed slot of the hem in adhered relation to the pole, but these are alternatives which are believed obvious in view of the disclosure.

To facilitate a stronger, more shear resistant relationship between the flag and the pole than can be provided through use of tape members alone, an adhesive coat- .ing 84 is used on the pole which will cooperably adhere to the outer surface of the pole and the inner surface of the hem. The adhesive is preferably one which may be coated on the pole and which will be inactive or nonadherent to the flag being placed on the pole until activated as by heat for example whereupon the adhesive will lightly bond the flag hem 12 to the pole 18 thereby providing a shear action of adhesion which is stronger by far than the peel strength of the tape alone. As will be obvious, the portion of the pole 18 enclosed in the hem 12 of the flag 10 may be entirely adhesively coated or the adhesive may be limited to exposed edges of the flag and slots.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the flag not only is held from longitudinal movement on the pole but from rotational or slipping movement as well. This, of course, enables the flag to be readily rolled on the pole and secured in rolled relation on the pole, as for storage or carrying for example, by means of cooperable snap fasteners secured in the flag and body.

In accordance with the Patent Office specification, I have set forth the best embodiments of my invention, and I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carrying pole for use in combination with a banner and an anchoring tape comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated pole,

(b) a banner having an elongated open ended hem extending substantially along one edge of said banner,

(c) said pole being located in said hem to carry said banner,

(d) said banner having a plurality of peripherally opposed generally longitudinally extending slots in said hem,

(e) an elongated generally flat anchoring tape of a length greater than the circumference of said pole having an adhesive surface and a non-adhesive surface,

(f) said tape having a first end and a second end,

(g) each of said slots being of a width substantially corresponding to the width of said tape and of a length substantially greater than the thickness of said said tape whereby a substantial portion of said pole is exposed through each of said slots,

(h) said tape extending in through one slot in said hem and out of the opposed slot in underlying relation to said pole,

(i) said tape portion between said slots adhesively engaged to said pole,

(j) said tape ends counterencircling and adhesively overlying the portions of said pole exposed in said slots and the hem portion between said slots,

(k) one said tape end adhesively overlying the other said tape end and extending through a said slot to terminate within said hem.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said pole located in said hem includes a longitudinally extending adhesive coating adhereing hem portions between adjacent opposed slots to said pole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 49,381 '8/1865 C-ook 402 1,595,395 8/1926 Herbener 116173 2,064,165 12/1936 Johnson 160-400 2,278,673 4/1942 Savada et al 117-122 2,712,312 7/1955 Deker et al. 128--156 2,953,475 9/ 1960 Bcrgstedt et al 117122 2,993,465 7/ 1961 Ginsley et al. 11663 3,051,588 8/1962 Lavanchy 117122 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,122,179 5/1956 France.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARRYING POLE FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A BANNER AND AN ANCHORING TAPE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ELONGATED POLE, (B) A BANNER HAVING AN ELONGATED OPEN ENDED HEM EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID BANNER, (C) SAID POLE BEING LOCATED IN SAID HEM TO CARRY SAID BANNER, (D) SAID BANNER HAVING A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERALLY OPPOSED GENERALLY LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOTS IN SAID HEM, (E) AN ELONGATED GENERALLY FLAT ANCHORING TAPE OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID POLE HAVING AN ADHESIVE SURFACE AND A NON-ADHESIVE SURFACE, (F) SAID TAPE HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END, (G) EACH OF SAID SLOTS BEING OF A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY 